We are committed to advancing the agenda of Universal Health Coverage in the country, and have rolled out various initiatives to meet this aim. This was stated by Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare at a function to observe Universal Health Coverage Day, 2017, here today. Shri S.P. Shukla, MoS , was also present at the function. The Union Health Minister and MoS  launched “LaQshya| लक्ष्य’’ - Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative, a Safe Delivery Mobile Application for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in the peripheral areas, and also released the Operational Guidelines for Obstetric High Dependency Units  and Intensive Care Units .
Addressing the participants, Shri Nadda stated that this year is significant as the National Health Policy 2017 has been approved which envisages the attainment of the highest possible level of health without anyone having to face financial hardship as a consequence. The Government has taken concrete steps to reduce the Out Of Pocket Expenditure , he added. Mission Indradhanush, one of the largest global public health initiatives was launced in 2014. In its four phases till date, MI has successfully reached over 25 million children in over 528 districts. “We are also focussed on increasing the basket of vaccines. Since 2014, we have launched Rotavirus vaccine, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine , and the Measles-Rubella  vaccine, and also the JE vaccine for adults, Shri Nadda elaborated. The Pradhan Mantri Dialysis Program has also been launched where 1.43 lakhs patients have availed free services from 1,069 Dialysis Units and under Free Drugs and Diagnostics Program; AMRIT outlets nearly 47 Lakh patients have benefitted from AMRIT Pharmacies through purchase of subsidized medicines, he added.
Shri Nadda also informed the participants that to provide comprehensive primary care, the Government has announced transforming 1.5 lakh sub health centres to Health and Wellness centres. “The Ministry is now moving towards provision of comprehensive primary care through the Health and Wellness Centres”, he said. He further stated that in a step towards provision of comprehensive primary care, the Government has initiated universal screening of common NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and common cancers at the sub-centre and Primary Health Centre. “This will enable the strengthening of preventive and promotive health, improve patient referral and access to secondary care services, Shri Nadda added. The Union Health Minister further stated that the government has been at the forefront to strengthen the tertiary care and as such six new AIIMS are functioning and sixwill come up in due course.
Reiterating the commitment of the Government towards Universal Health Coverage, Shri S.P. Shukla, MoS  stated that the Government is committed to providing the resources for achieving Universal Health coverage. He further said that the Government has increased the budget of the Health Ministry for 2017-18 by 27.7% “The Government has also through the 14th Finance Commission increased devolution from 32 % to 42% of divisible pool - an increase estimated at Rs. 25 lakh crore over award period to provide States with greater flexibility and autonomy to design, implement and finance schemes, Shri Shukla said.
Laqshya| Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative
There is enough evidence that supports the fact that improving the quality of care in Labour rooms especially on the day of birth, is central to maternal and neonatal survival. Recognizing this fact, Government of India is launching Laqshya- Labor Room Quality Improvement Initiative. LaQshya is expected to improve the quality of care that is being provided to the pregnant mother in the Labour Room and Maternity Operation Theatres, thereby preventing the undesirable adverse outcomes associated with childbirth. This initiative will be implemented in Government Medical Colleges  besides District Hospitals , and high delivery load Sub- District Hospitals  and Community Health Centres . The initiative plans to conduct quality certification of labour rooms and also incentivize facilities achieving the targets outlined. The goal of this initiative is to reduce preventable maternal and new-born mortality, morbidity and stillbirths associated with the care around delivery in Labour room and Maternity OT and ensure respectful maternity care.
Operational Guidelines for Obstetric High Dependency Units  and Intensive Care Units 
Another important aspect related to maternal mortality is availability of critical care for complicated cases. For this, the Government of India had released Guidelines for setting up of Obstetric High Dependency Units  and Intensive Care Units  in 2016. The guidelines presented a broad concept of Obstetric HDU and ICU. We are now releasing the Operational Guidelines for Obstetric High Dependency Units  and Intensive Care Units . These guidelines will complement the already existing National guidelines and help the states and state level policy makers in setting up and operationalising these critical care units, dedicated to the pregnant women and recently delivered mothers, in Medical colleges and District Hospitals,.
Safe Delivery Application
The Safe Delivery Application is a mHealth tool that can be used for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in the peripheral areas. The application has Clinical Instruction films on key obstetric procedures which can help the health workers translate their learnt skills into practice. It can play a pivotal role in training, post training reinforcement, mentoring and demonstration. This application has been tailored as per the Indian context. It has also been field tested in few districts and has been found to be useful for health workers who provide maternity care.
The goal of achieving universal health coverage  has become the major focus of health system reform around the world. UHC is about ensuring that everyone has access to the health care they need without suffering financial hardship. It has been called “the single most powerful concept that public health has to offer”. In December 2012, the United Nations passed a landmark resolution endorsing universal health coverage. In September 2015, the achievement of UHC was enshrined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals  as a key target to be reached by 2030. UHC Day, first commemorated on 12 December 2014, marks the anniversary of the landmark UN resolution.
Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, SEARO, Dr. B D Athani, Special DGHS, Dr. V. K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, Shri Manoj Jhalani, AS&MD , Dr. Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative India and Smt Vandana Gurnani, Joint Secretary, along with the Health Secretaries and Mission Directors from the States.